"Why should I resign?" - Pakistan PM

After weeks of protests calling for his resignation, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is fed up.
The protesters have not only taken to the streets, but they have set up camp -- vowing to stay put until the prime minister quits.
On Wednesday Sharif issues a warning.
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, NAWAZ SHARIF, SAYING:
"Up until now, we have tolerated all this and acted with decency and patience, otherwise it's no hard task for us to clear the way and clear the streets. It is not difficult at all."
He says there is no reason to step down
(SOUNDBITE) (Urdu) PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER, NAWAZ SHARIF, SAYING:
"Pakistan's 180 million people have elected Nawaz Sharif as their Prime Minister. Why should I resign on the demand of five thousand persons?"
His opponents accuse him of rigging last year's election, which returned him to power in a landslide.
Opposition leaders ordered thousands of their supporters to resist any government attempt to quash their protests. This may prolong a political crisis in the coup-prone country -- with some protesters already settling into the camp for the long haul.

SPONSOREDSTORIES

Reuters is the news and media division of Thomson Reuters. Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms.

*All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.